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Ok, you might be wondering what kind of health topics I am going to add in here, well, if you have visitied the old site you already know I am really active in trying to educate people about Endometriosis (Endo), a disease in woman that is to often overlooked or not caught. This disease can cause no symptoms to pain, infetility, abdominal bloating and the list goes on. I will have some links to medical sites with more medical based info in with my info, I am going to go through what I know as a sufferer of endo myself and what the Drs have told me.
Endometriosis. What causes it? Noone knows. "A number of theories have been advanced but no one of them seems to account for all cases. One theory is the retrograde menstruation or transtubal migration theory_that during menstruation some of the menstrual tissue backs up through the fallopian tubes, implants in the abdomen, and grows. Some experts on endometriosis believe all women experience some menstrual tissue backup and that an immune system problem and/or hormonal problem allows this tissue to take root and grow in women who develop endometriosis. Another theory suggests that the endometrial tissue is distributed from the uterus to other parts of the body through the Iymph system or the blood system. A genetic theory suggests that it may be carried in the genes of certain families or that certain families may have predisposing factors to endometriosis.
Another theory suggests that remnants of tissue from when the woman was an embryo may later develop into endometriosis or that some adult tissues retain the ability they had in the embryo stage to transform into reproductive tissue under certain circumstances. Surgical transplantation has also been cited as a cause in cases where endometriosis is found in abdominal surgery scars, although it has also been found in such scars when direct accidental implantation seems unlikely. Other theories are being developed by the Association and others researching endometriosis." "from Endometriosis Association Information"
What cures it? Nothing. What are the symptoms? "The most common symptoms of endometriosis are pain before and during periods (usually worse than "normal" menstrual cramps), during or after sexual activity, infertility, and heavy or irregular bleeding. Other symptoms may include fatigue; painful bowel movements with periods; lower back pain with periods; diarrhea and/or constipation and other intestinal upset with periods Some women with endometriosis have no symptoms. Infertility affects about 30-40% of women with endometriosis and is a common result with progression of the disease" "from Endometriosis Association Information" Alot of women experience abdominal pain as well, even when it isnt time or close to time for menstration. I am one of those woman, I have sharp pains in my lower abdomen, pains bad enough to drop me to my knees before anyone around me knows what happened. I also had fainting spells when it was really bad, if I would move to fast the pain would be unbearable and I would just faint. I don't consider myself as having a low pain tolerance at all, for goodness sake I gave birth to an 8lb baby naturally and a 7lb 2 oz baby with an epidural (I would take natural over epi anyday!) This can be serious for some women, including those who experience inferitility because of the disease. If you believe you may have endometriosis, you should find a doctor that is experienced with the disease to help you determine if it is indeed that. How do they diagnose endo? Well, Diagnosis of endometriosis is generally considered uncertain until proven by laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is a minor surgical procedure done under anesthesia in which the patient's abdomen is distended with carbon dioxide gas to make the organs easier to see and a laparoscope (a tube with a light in it) is inserted into a tiny incision in the abdomen. By moving the laparoscope around the abdomen, the surgeon can check the condition of the abdominal organs and see the endometrial implants, if care and thoroughness are used.
A doctor can often feel the endometrial implants upon palpation (pelvic examination by the doctor's hands), and symptoms will often indicate endometriosis, but medical textbooks indicate it is not good practice to treat this disease without confirmation of the diagnosis. Ovarian cancer sometimes has the same symptoms as endometriosis, and hormonal treatment (particularly estrogen), which is common in treating endometriosis, could cause a cancer to grow even faster. A laparoscopy also indicates the locations, extent, and size of the growths and may help the doctor and patient make better informed, long-range decisions about treatment and pregnancy. "from Endometriosis Association Information"
My doctor did a pelvic exam, when he pushed on my lower abdomen I cried, he immediatly said he believed I had endo, and scheduled a Laparoscopy. This was a rather fast day surgery, I went in got put under woke up and went home. I was a tad sore for a couple days (I had my tubes tied when he was in there so my case was a bit different than normal) He did find endometriosis and used a laser to burn it off. He sent it in for a biopsy and the test conmfirmed what it was. After the surgery my dr put me on a hormone drug called Aygestin. This drug was supposed to supress my estrogen enough to let me heal without getting endometriosis again. Well, it didnt work, about 5 months into the treatment the pain came back. I was then put on a shot, I cant remember what the name of it was to be honest, and when I think of it I will include it. I only took the shot once before we started discussing whether a hysterectomy was in my best interest. I had 2 children and I didnt want to have anymore (not out of my body anyway, both pregnancies were very hard and I almost lost both of my boys, I didnt feel having another child was worth the risk) and the hysterectomy would not include taking out my ovaries, just my uterus and cervix. After serious thought I decided with my doctor this was probably the best option. The statistics show most women after a hysterectomy are pain free for years if not forever. Unfortunatly this was not the case for me, I am suffering again with pain from endo, and there really isnt anything else to do. I can continue to have surgeries or I can deal with it. Well, my choice is to deal with it (hey, my poor belly button has been cut open enough). I am currently taking belladonna 6x for pain and tylenol. This helps somewhat, and I sure dont want to go back on the pain pill regime, I dont like feeling that way, besides, how good of a mother could I possibly be if I am doped up on pain meds all the time. All in all, this is a serious problem that needs to be dealt with. If you or someone you love has these stymptoms, please, see a doctor, for alot of women it can be helped. And there is no reason to suffer needlessly.
